Skip to main content

Duplicate Content

Duplicate Content

The World Wide Web is like a running race or marathon where websites compete
to reach the finish line first. In this case, the finish line is a higher
ranking. And in this race for supremacy, it is important to avoid duplicate
content and its penalties.

To facilitate the efficient functioning of directories, search engines have
been armed with content filters. This removes or filters duplicate content
from pages it's indexing. And the most hurtful penalty is lower rankings.

Unfortunately, these filters not only catch rogues but web pages that are
genuine too. What webmasters need to do is understand how filters function
and know what action is to be taken to avoid being filtered out.

When a search engine sends out spiders the filters leave out or sieve:

. Websites that feature identical content. And when within a site the
webmaster includes many copies or versions of pages to cheat the search
engines. Filters are also extremely sensitive to "doorway" pages.

. Content masked by different packaging. Known as "scraped content" this
duplication of pages with little or no relevant changes falls prey to
filters.

. Product descriptions featured by e-commerce sites. Most e-commerce sites
publish alongside a product the manufacturer's description of the product
and this content then appears on zillions of e-commerce sites falling victim
to filters.

. Articles distributed widely over the net. While some engines are
programmed to find the origin of the article there are others who may not be
able to source the origins.

. Pages that are not duplicates but contain the same core material written
by different people.

To get the better of filters you need to:

. Use a tool like the Similar Page Checker
http://www.webconfs.com/similar-page-checker.php to ensure that the pages in
your site are not mirroring content from elsewhere. In case there are other
URLS with similar or identical content the tool will reveal them to you and
you will be able to make changes in your pages.

. Be vigilant and know who has "helped" themselves to your content. By
using www.copyscape.com you can determine which websites have stolen or
copied your work.

. Even if you do use distributed content you can add a commentary or make
changes to the page focusing on its relevance to your site. By making any
content your own you are making it unique and different and this will ensure
that the pages are not filtered by search engines.

. Even if you are running an e-commerce site you must include product
descriptions that are distinctively yours and not run of the mill.

Learn as much as you can about duplicate content and its dangers. Read the
issues that were discussed at the SES 2006 New York Session and other
forums. Remember most search engines, Google, Yahoo, or Open Directory
Project do not want to be flooded by duplicate content and web pages.

Jake Baillie, President of TrueLocal listed the duplicate content mistakes
to be: circular navigation; printer friendly pages; inconsistent linking;
product only pages; transparent serving domains; and bad cloaking.

It is important for sites to get high ranking through fair and not foul
means.

Website: http://www.webcraft.ws
E-mail: gerald@webcraft.ws
Yahoo: webcraftguru@yahoo.co.za
Blog: http://webcraftws.blogspot.com/

Twitter: WebcraftGuru
Facebook: Webcraft Guru


I'm protected by SpamBrave
http://www.spambrave.com/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Is Internet Website Content?

What Is Internet Website Content? Content is made up of multiple elements, and is primarily the; * On-page visible text * Images and image Alt text * Anchor text in hyperlinks to internal or external pages * Hyperlink titles in links and menus * The descriptive Title and Description meta-data In the context of Google, a picture is NOT worth a thousand words! Moreover, words must be accessible, not embedded in images or Flash movies, JavaScript, slide shows etc. In 15 years as an SEO consultant, if there's one common denominator evident on websites, it's that there is a profound reluctance to expend time, money, and creative energy on unique text content. Brevity is the watchword - economical use of words is encouraged by design, branding and marketing advisers! * The branding gurus want you to use the textual equivalent of sound bites - bullet points and short sentences! * The website designers want the entire content of the page to be above ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Local Business Online Visibility Tips – Use What You Do Every Day

When you think about online visibility for your local business it's so easy to get wrapped up and overloaded with what you should be doing on the internet to promote your website. Yet, small changes to your every day business routine can make a big difference. Often, business owners think about being visible online as a way of reaching people whom you have had no contact with at all. That's true in many cases. Sometimes, online visibility is as simple as making sure that people you interact with (even briefly) as part of your usual business routines are aware of your online presence. Not everyone wants to pick up the phone or call in to your premises to find out basic information like your opening hours or who to contact. Sometimes people just want to find out a bit more about you and your company. In this day and age of always being plugged in to the Internet, your website is the first p...
Post a Comment
Read more

The REAL Value of Keywords

An important question in SEO is how much intrinsic value resides in a specific keyword and, whether SEO has the potential to take everybody on a fool's errand? When it comes to bigger companies, for instance, can a massive SEO investment in trying to achieve top ranking for almost-generic, ultra-competitive keywords be worth all the disappointment and soul-searching? Surely, in so many cases, there has to be a better way? At the other end of the scale are smaller companies with a limited marketing budget, particularly in the business-to-business sphere. There is often a fine balance to achieve when it comes to investing in SEO for what can only be low-traffic keywords in niche sectors, even where higher gross margins per sale indicate otherwise. Realizing this, many companies will skip the on-line sales dance, or resign themselves to having a website that is little more than an 'on-line brochure' presence or a support mechanism for Pay-Per-Click or social media activities. ...
Post a Comment
Read more